Leviticus 25:37

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

Leviticus 25:37 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 25:37

Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury
Lend him money, expecting and insisting upon a large interest for it; this is to be understood of persons in poor and necessitous circumstances, of which the text only speaks; otherwise, if persons borrow money to gain by it, to carry on a greater trade, or to make purchase with it, it is but reasonable that the lender should have a share of profit arising from thence: nor lend him thy victuals for increase;
by which it should seem that those two words, used in ( Leviticus 25:36 ) , though in the main they signify the same thing, yet may be distinguished, the one as concerning money, the other food; and which latter is not to be given by way of loan to a person in want of it, but freely; as for instance, if a man gives a poor man a bushel of wheat, on condition he gives him two for it hereafter, this is lending or giving his victuals for increase.

Leviticus 25:37 In-Context

35 And if thy brother shall have become poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: [yea, though he] may [be] a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

36 Take thou no interest of him, or increase; but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

38 I [am] the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, [and] to be your God.

39 And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee shall have become poor, and be sold to thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond servant: